Outdoor Program

» Wilderness Orientation                 
» Fall Trip                         
» Spring Trip

Trips into the outdoors are a strong tradition at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, dating back to the early days of the school. CRMS’s ties to this adventurous approach to education place it among the first high schools in the country to integrate outdoor education into the school curriculum. For students and faculty alike, witnessing the beauty of magical places across the Colorado Plateau and receiving the personal and communal benefits of living simply and traveling in small groups help to make participating in CRMS's trips one of the most favored practices of the school community.

Students arriving at CRMS for their first year receive an introduction to the school, to its outdoor tradition, by way of an unforgettable ten-day Wilderness Orientation, led by CRMS faculty into one of the scenic and rugged wilderness areas nearby. This is a great chance for new students to become familiar with their new peers and the surroundings.

The expectation that each student will participate in Fall Trip and Spring Trip on an annual basis at CRMS is supported by a strong belief in the return on the investment. The multitude of rewards a student receives from living and traveling in a self-supported manner in the wilds is supported in numerous research studies. Some of the benefits gained are increased physical fitness, an improved sense of well being, an appreciation for the outdoors, and an expanded sense of self. The gains that a typical CRMS group reports after having ventured out on an outdoor trip include an increased unity among group members, the making of lasting friendships, and the development of a greater respect for others. Many at CRMS feel that it is imperative for students to get out and experience the splendid natural landscape that surrounds us here in Western Colorado, due to the changing world with its increased pressures to develop or alter cherished places that we have taken for granted. Others will point to the disturbing trend that has been widely documented of the growing number of adolescents who are being raised without enough time outdoors.

Other opportunities arise throughout the year to experience the outdoors, such as weekend forays to explore places like the historic Tenth Mountain Hut System or some of the storied canyon country of Eastern Utah. All or part of our outdoor operation is conducted on Public Lands under special permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Forest Service.

» Wilderness Slide Show
» Fall Trip Slide Show
» Spring Trip Slide Show
 
Important Outdoor-Related Forms
Preparation is key to a successful backcountry experience. Participants on Wilderness or other outdoor trips should download and read the forms below. For any questions or more information, please contact Darryl Fuller. 

» Equipment Purchase Forms
» Wilderness Fitness Expectations
» Wilderness Equipment Checklist
» Wilderness Questionnaire 
» Dealing with Altitude Sickness
» Asthma on CRMS Trips